Next up: the Woodstock branch of the Multnomah County library, where we met up with Micah Kassell, 32.

Kassell had his ballot and his wife's ballot and hoped to turn them in before heading to work at Nike, where he works as a designer. But the library was closed. While we chatted with Kassell for about 10 minutes, another dozen or so would-be voters came by to cast their ballots at the Woodstock branch, only to be turned away.

Penny Hummell, a spokeswoman for the county's library system, said while the library may have staff inside, the ballot box requires protection during voting. She said libraries are only in a position to offer that security during regular business hours. (She added that the Gresham and Midland branches are able to take ballots around the clock.)

Noelle Crombie/The OregonianMicah Kassell walks away from the Woodstock Library branch with his ballots. The library doesn't open until 10 a.m., which frustrated a stream of voters who were eager to cast their votes before heading to work this morning.

The locked doors posed an inconvenience for Kassell but that won't keep him from voting. He and his wife are planning an election night bash with other Richmond Elementary School parents (that's where his 7- and 5-year-old stepsons are students).

Kassell is optimistic about his candidate, Sen. Barack Obama, but he's not what we'd describe as giddy. Yet. "I am afraid to be optimistic. I am afraid to totally believe what is happening."